As the city gears up for the Commonwealth Games,Surender Gupta,67,is happy to see the silver lining in the cloud of dust and grime left behind as the city rushes to complete the infrastructure projects. At least they are bringing back our cycling tracks, says the Pitampura resident who goes on his own cycling expeditions within the city every weekend. Recalling his impression of Delhi in 1954,when he first arrived as a young student from Dehradun,Gupta says,We all used bicycles to travel around the city but the tracks marked along the roads gradually began to disappear as they (authorities) kept widening the roads and building flyovers. More than 45 years later,Gupta signed up with the Delhi Cycling Club (DCC),an NGO which organises rides and rallies to promote cycling and has members from across the Capital. I began by hiring bicycles from stands set up by the Delhi Metro at its stations. Recently,I bought my own bicycle and helmet and often go on heritage rides and other trails organised by the group. Though the roads are still not safe enough for cyclists,at least there is a revival of concern and interest. Gupta is not the only one participating in this surge to promote cycling. While the Delhi government has planned cycling tracks along stretches around Games venues and in Lutyens Delhi,the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal System (DIMTS) has built five cycle stands along the BRT corridor. Bicycles are available for rent at these stands. The idea was to promote cycling as a mode of transport for short distances, a DIMTS spokesperson says. We have got a good response in the last one month. People from all walks of life office-goers,foreign tourists and even young people are hiring our bicycles. The spokesperson says DIMTS now plans to increase the number of such cycle stations along the BRT corridor. Delhi has seen at least three bicycle rallies organised by DIMTS along the corridor this year,including a critical mass rally in September. Transport planner Anvita Arora says the sudden interest in cycling as an alternative transport has gathered interest largely due to the National Urban Transport Policy mooted by the Urban Development ministry in 2006. The policy clearly looks at developing modes of transport that are people-based,and not vehicle-based,and mandates provision for active transport (non-motorised forms of commuting), Arora says. Cities and states applying for funds under JNNURM scheme have to adhere to these principles,so cycling as an alternative mode of transport have begun to percolate down to the governments drawing board. Arora is co-founder of the Centre for Active transport that recently developed guidelines for the government on infrastructure development for pedestrians. Art designer Ashita Murgai,35,says she re-discovered her passion for cycling with her two children two years ago. For her,cycling is a way to re-discover Delhis unknown corners. We have been on rides through the Ridge and often meet people from different walks of life and different age-groups during group rides and rallies, she says. Pedal your way* Rent a cycle for Rs 10 from 5 stations set up by DIMTS along BRT corridor,or from Metro stations at Delhi University,Barakhamba Road and IP Estate* Sign up with Delhi Cycle Club and participate in rallies and rides organised every weekend* Sign up for a heritage ride through the Walled City organised by Delhi By Cycle,an organisation run by Dutch journalist Jack Leenars
